Head-to-head comparison
Blue Cliff College-Alexandria vs Paul Mitchell the School-Baton Rouge: which has better ROI?
Option A Alexandria, LA
Blue Cliff College-Alexandria
- Net price / year
- $16,253
- Earnings, 10 years
- $22,177
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Baton Rouge, LA
Paul Mitchell the School-Baton Rouge
- Net price / year
- $23,488
- Earnings, 10 years
- $25,699
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Paul Mitchell the School-Baton Rouge comes closer — median earnings $25,699 against a $93,952 total, vs $22,177 at Blue Cliff College-Alexandria. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Blue Cliff College-Alexandria | Paul Mitchell the School-Baton Rouge |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,253 | $23,488 |
| Total net cost | $65,012 | $93,952 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $22,177 | $25,699 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $9,833 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$588,672 | -$547,172 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Blue Cliff College-Alexandria or Paul Mitchell the School-Baton Rouge?
Blue Cliff College-Alexandria, at $16,253 a year after aid versus $23,488 — a gap of $7,235 a year, or $28,940 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Blue Cliff College-Alexandria or Paul Mitchell the School-Baton Rouge graduates earn more?
Paul Mitchell the School-Baton Rouge graduates report a median $25,699 ten years after entry, $3,522 more than the $22,177 at Blue Cliff College-Alexandria. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Blue Cliff College-Alexandria or Paul Mitchell the School-Baton Rouge?
Blue Cliff College-Alexandria: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $9,833 at Paul Mitchell the School-Baton Rouge, a difference of $333. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
75% of students finish at Paul Mitchell the School-Baton Rouge, against 34% at Blue Cliff College-Alexandria. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.